  What does a Pap smear check
for and how often should I have one done?
Pap Smear Truths
A Pap smear is a screening test
to check a woman's cervix for any abnormalities like infection or cancer.
This test has been around for 50 years and should be a part of a woman's gynecological
exam.
 It's
done during the internal exam by a physician. The doctor or other health care
provider takes a sampling of the woman's cervix by gently using a small brush (it looks
like an eyebrow brush).- He/She inserts the brush into the opening of the
cervix and turns it about 180 degrees. The brush holds collected cervical cells and
mucus which are "smeared' onto a glass slide.
- A small wooden spatula is then gently scraped on the outer
portion of the cervix, and these cells are also smeared onto the slide and fixed with an
alcohol spray. This test goes very quickly and should be pain-free.
This sample goes to a lab
that is certified to read Pap smears, and the slide is covered in a special dye
and read by a cytotechnologist (a person who is trained to examine cells microscopically
and recognize abnormalities). Because cervical cancer doesn't just "spring
up" but usually develops slowly over time, the technician looks for those cells that
may be problematic down the road- they can tell which are precancerous or not.
A Pap smear can tell a lot about a woman's cervix.
It can tell if there is inflammation which can be caused by a variety of things-
infection, cancer, trauma to the cervix, and if the sample is taken to close to the ending
of a period it may show up as inflamed.
Since cervical cancer affects over 15,00 women every year
and from this group 4,800 die, we need to have regular screening. The death rate from
cervical cancer is more than twice as high for black women as it is for whites. The exact
reason for this increase is not known- inadequate screening has been thought to be a
potential reason.
Pap Smear Myths
A Pap smear does not and cannot tell a woman the condition
of her ovaries. A Pap smear is specific to the cervix.
Find out more about your ovaries:
Women's Health Center: Ovarian Cancer
Information about this terrible
disease along with what you can do about it.
Pap Smear Schedule
 There is a schedule as to when and how often a woman should have a
Pap smear. According to Dr. Judith Reichman
the author of I'm
Too Young to get Old, she recommends one Pap smear every 3 years
if 3 consecutive tests are normal, more frequently at the physician's and patients'
discretion. For women at high risk of developing cervical cancer a Pap smear should
be done very year.
Here at HotFlash! we recommend a Pap smear every year for
women over 35 years old. As this is a time of hormonal changes ( due to
perimenopause etc...), changes in the cervix and that the cervix is virtually impossible
for us to exam ourselves this is a very good schedule to ensure your health.
TVU's best to find ovarian cancer
 TVU's cited as the best way to
detect ovarian cancer in Reuters news article. Recent research presented this week at a
San Diego meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists suggesting that ultrasound may
be that test. Find out more.
Ovarian Cancer Awareness
What are the signs and symptoms of this hidden
killer. Early diagnosis is the key. Find out more
Mother and Daughter, Together Fight the Battle
 My name is Debbie Adams. My mom was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer in
May.She has and still is going through a horrible battle of trying to save her life or at
least live long enough to see her 6 grandchildren grow up. Find out more
Breast Cancer Facts
separating fact from
fiction
by Sue Spataro, RN, BSN
There is so much in the media that scares the
living life out of us. Breast cancer is one topic that manages to catch all of our
attention. The media report all the bad news and statistics but neglect to tell us what
they really mean. |
more
dieting
books
Join our 
